Calling Cards for Counselors

[CurtS]

I had just read on one of the threads about giving calling cards to the counselors in Oceaneer's Club. What a great idea! For those who have done this--what denomination have you used and do you give them to all of the counselors or are there certain counselors that tend to work with your children and you give the cards to them?

 

[kcashner]

The counsellors are not a position that works for tips--that is, they are decently paid for their services. So, the phone cards or Walmart cards are a nice little "thank you," but not expected.

We usually get a couple of $10 international calling cards. There are 12 counsellors in each age group...so I ask DD if anyone made her time extra special. We put a phone card and a thank you note in an envelope for those persons--usually 2 or 3--and put their name on the envelope. That way, if they are not working the last night, they still get the gift.

BTW...any cash tips they receive are pooled and split among the whole group. THe phone cards, the individuals get to keep.

 

[CM_Mom]

Another option for Club/Lab counselors is to give Wal-Mart or Target gift cards. Some of the counselors have cell phones so will get more use out of the Wal-Mart gift cards since there's a bus that goes there on Saturday so they can purchase necessities and "stuff".

Note that Wal-mart of Target gift cards aren't a good option for servers or Stateroom hosts since they rarely get off the ship.

I also recommend having your children prepare hand made thank you cards as you prepare for the cruise. I think it helps them expect to have fun and the CMs love the thought.

 

[eye R.N.]

The kids each get one or possibly two. I also use them for tipping for tea at Palo's

 

[lurontravel]

Gift cards are raffled off between the counselors if you don't specify who they are to go to. This might even mean that some one from the "Lab" will get a gift card that you gave when your kid was in "Oceaneers". I think that this is ok, b/c a lot of parents of older kids don't bother to tip.

In Flounders, you can give the cards to each person individually, there are 4 full time counselors in there.

I agree that Walmart cards would probably be more appreciated then the phone cards, when I spoke to one of the counselors at the end of our cruise, she said that a lot of the counselors have cell phones (like a previous poster mentioned), and that they do have a shuttle to Walmart for them.

We brought 10 $10 phone cards, and we have 2 kids, one used Oceaneers,and one Flounders. We gave 3 to flounders (b/c they only had 3 full timers on that week, one was on leave), and the other 7 to Oceaneers to be raffled.

BTW, any cash that is given, is put in a pot, and every several months (they alternate each group of counselors) one group will get a party at WDW or somewhere like that. It is not divided and given to individuals.

 

[TinkHappy]

lurontravel ~ Great ideas!!! I am just wondering, it seems you know a lot about this, do you know if they prefer the $$ over the Walmart/Target cards? I have 2 DD (both in the lab, but diff age groups)...would they have the same counselors? If I did give cash, should I do 5 gift cards and $50.00 cash or do you think 10 $10.00 gift cards would be better? Just curious about your opinion on this. Thanks!!!

 

[kcashner]

The biggest difference between giving cash and giving a phone card or gift card is that the cash is put into a pool and used by the whole group--we were told by a counsellor that it was split, but I certainly won't argue with someone who was told it was used for a party or whatever. Bottom line is that it is for the whole group. A phone card or gift card CAN be directed to a specific person. If you don't specify, they are given to the group and divided up or raffled. But if you put it in an envelope with "Jan" on it, then it will go to Jan. Hope this makes sense.

2 kids in the lab would have the same group of counsellors, but they would be with different people at different times.

I like to direct my thanks (note and gift) to those people that DD felt made her time special. While that may not be totally fair, it rewards those people who went an extra step (or mile) for her. FOr instance, when a CM from France allowed her to practice her "schoolbook French" with him, that was special. When another CM sort of stuck her nose in the air and pretended that she couldn't understand DD, that's not someone I'd want to get a piece of my "tip."

 

[Dcanoli]

These are excellent ideas! At first, I thought you were all talking about the cards Tagrel posted on another thread, but this is even better.

We are going in September, and I'm trying to spread out the spending for the trip, so I'll start picking up some of these now. I'm always in either Sam's or Wal-Mart.

Just for the record to make sure I'm getting this right--most of the CMs in the Labs have cell phones, right? So, it is better to get the Wal-Mart gift cards, correct?

Now, also--correct me if I'm wrong, but IF you get the W/M gift cards and a CM wanted and/or needed a phone card, couldn't they always buy a phone card from W/M?

Deb

 

[lurontravel]

I spoke to the girl in Flounders who was in charge (Tracy), that is where I got my info. She indicated that the Walmart (Target for those who had a car, she said, but there is no way to know that in advance...) cards were the most popular, even over the phone cards. I guess that it depends on what you want to do. They do raffle off the cards that are given amoung all of the counselors of all age groups (Oceaneers Club, The Lab and the Stack), and cash is ultimately for a party that ALL counselors on the ship get to attend. Tracy did indicate the store cards were probably most appreciated by the individual staff members, so maybe I'd do a few gift cards and the cash option. This way you can specifically thank a few special people, and you won't worry that you forgot someone by mistake. As far as those who aren't so nice at times (I pray that it is only isolated instances that this ever might occur), just remember that what comes around, goes around; and you reap what you sow.

Enjoy!

 

[lurontravel]

Dcanoli,
Yes, you can buy a phone card at Walmart...

Yes, Tracy did give me the impression that Walmart cards were better for counselors then phone cards.

 

[Dcanoli]

Hey! Thanks for replying so quickly. I'd probably stick to the W/M gift cards, rather than cash, since the cash has to go into a pot for all of them.

If I got into a situation where I didn't have enough cards to reward everyone, then I'd dip into the cash!

Thanks for the advice!

 

[CM_Mom]

DD is a CM in the Club and says that Wal-Mart gift cards are preferred over phone cards as she and many of the other counselors have cell phonesso they use the minutes instead of phone cards.

As to the number or amounts. One advantage of the Wal Mart gift cards is that you can purchase extras and if you don't need all of them for someone on the cruise, you can use them to buy groceries when you get home!

If you want a gift card to go to a specific counselor, then you either need to hand it directly to them or put it in an envelope with their name on it.

Also, if one of the counselors does something special, be sure to mention them by name and indicate what they did that made your trip special on your guest evaluation form. These comments are entered into their permanent record and they receive departmental recognition for them.

 

[TinkHappy]

One more question (can't make any promisses )...I know that we should write a persons name on the envelope, but what do we do with the cash? Do we find a supervisor, go to guest services or just hand it to one of the counselors?

I always write down a special CM's name (I do this at the parks, hotels and ship). I always wonder if they receive the comments back?
I worked for the Marriott and we would receive a nice lunch, including a guest, if we received so many positive comments...It is very nice to be noticed by someone. Too many times people only write about the negative.

 

[CM_Mom]

If you choose to give cash, just give it to any of the counselors or supervisors. They are required to turn it in to the common pot.

About the comments, if you mention someone by name on the guest services survey, a note is made in their permanent employee record about the comment. For the Youth Actitivies Department, the comment is posted on a bulletin board for all to see. They also earn points toward special perks that vary by department.

 

[Dcanoli]

Thank you so much CM Mom! That is exactly what I think I am going to do, and I was thinking the same thing about if I don't use them, have extras, etc.

Speaking of recognizing CM's have you seen this website? It's a great way to recogize CM throughout the WDW family of venues:


http://www.whatwouldwaltdo.com

 

[Houzer]

I have two children on 12 and the other 6 so they are both in different groups but how many gift cards would I have to buy? I guess I am wondering how many councellors there are for each child and would you just chose a few councellors or them all?? Pauline

 

[lurontravel]

If I remember correctly, there are 12 for EACH age group (3-4, 5-7, 7-9, etc...).

 

[Dcanoli]

HOWEVER, I doubt you'd have 12 special counselors! LOL

Maybe take four $10 cards with you. Like they said above, it's not money wasted because what you don't use on the ship, you can use for groceries!

 

[lurontravel]

Dcanoli,
Yes, I agree that 12 is a bit much to buy for each age group. I was afraid to suggest a lower number in my post, so I just gave a fact (we didn't bring along enough for each of our kids counselors). We decided that if we could have given cash, we would probably tip $100 provided our kids were happy and well cared for, so that is what we brought is card value (we brought phone cards, but next time it'll be Walmart cards), and we split it up between the areas as we saw fit.

 

[Dcanoli]

I agree. I think that's the best way to go.

If you feel uncomfortable with 2 cards for each age group, then I'd say to go three, but with what I'm reading so far on these boards about the counselor-to-child ratios (too few counselors for the big number of kids in the clubs), I honestly can't see how FOUR counselors would give your child special attention.

Seems like most people are only experiencing one or maybe two special ones at the most.